On Our Radar

On Our Radar

Know Before the Bell: Toothpaste Ingredient Tied to Cancer?

The toothpaste you’re using may be linked to cancer-cell growth, and the U.S. Postal Service lost billions of dollars in the spring.

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Millions of Americans may be putting a cancer-causing ingredient in their mouths every day. It’s called triclosan, and it’s in Colgate Total, Colgate-Palmolive’s (CL) top-selling toothpaste. Triclosan has reportedly been linked to cancer in animals. Many consumer companies have phased it out, and Minnesota has banned it.

Parents, listen up! You’ll spend $670 on back-to-school shopping lists, and it will take you three months to check everything off. This longer shopping stretch is welcome news to retailers.

The Postal Service continued to report red ink, losing $2 billion this spring despite an increase in volume and higher prices. The agency blamed health-care costs for future retirees, and warned that it will miss next month’s payment into that fund.